I've sent a save the date out to a ton of friends...I grew up going to a holiday party every year for my parents friends and their kids, and wanted to start the tradition for my group of friends.
I don't want to be slaving over the stove for a week beforehand, so what are your best "make ahead' recipes? There will be lots of adults and kids, mix and mingle party so no formal dinner. It starts at 4 PM and goes on throughout the evening to give people an opportunity to drop in.
Go!
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
Well lots of desserts can be made early! and lots of dips, too. Do you literally want cold stuff you can just set out? Or stuff you can make early, then cook, then set out? I usually make everything I can in advance, throw it in the fridge, then just throw it in the oven when I'm having people over. I made Santa Fe dip this weekend and it was craaaazy good.
meatballs in the crockpot, little smokies, lots of cold dips, a meat and cheese platter with crackers and breads....party food!
grapefruit / 4441 posts
Oooh, I need recipes like this for LO's first birthday!
I have a baked french toast and fritatta recipes at home that I make for brunches... I'll try to remember to come back and post them.
For pot lucks, I usually make a simple brushetta... just chopped tomatoes (I use cherry + other varieties, including yellow tomatos for color), drizzle of oil oil, splash of lemon juice, cut up fresh basil, salt, and pepper. Served on toasted bagette slices. Sometimes I add fresh mozzerella.
I also make pasta salad for parties - pasta, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, edemame, carrots, black olives, red peppers, Wegman's Italian dressing.
ETA: Also, I really like a dill chicken asparagus recipe I got from Cooking Light. I made it for my sister's baby shower and people loved it. This looks like the same recipe: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-salad-asparagus-dill-50400000104725/
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I love this kind of food, so I have a ton of ideas..I am assuming you want warm/hearty type stuff?
I'd do a baked ziti, easy to eat without having to cut anything. I make mine with mini meatballs when I have extra time.
I would also do a chicken marsala, again, cut small, so you can eat it without cutting.
pear / 1992 posts
I grew up attending a giant holiday party at my friends family's house and they always had, no fail, giant pans of homemade baked ziti like @looch: suggested.
You can make/assemble ahead and warm in the oven prior to guests arriving. I'm pretty sure they staggered the pans, too. So they had a hot one out and another warming so that when the first ran out, there was another warm fresh pan of pasta.
Served it with a lot of finger foods and giant bowls of green salad and loaves of garlic bread. I don't remember much else about the food, but I remember that ziti.
pomelo / 5093 posts
Slow cooker pulled pork. Make it the night before, and it barely takes any effort. Easiest food ever. It's so rich that a little bit goes a long way, so it's even pretty cheap to make, too.
http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/slow-cooker-pulled-pork-sandwiches/
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